Hanover's Takeover Surprises Fire Chief

Village Disconnecting From Service District

February 06, 1999|By Ginger Orr, Tribune Staff Writer.

A vote this week by Hanover Park officials to create a village fire department that they say will "mean increased safety and welfare for residents" shocked the Hanover Park Fire Protection District's chief.

The Village Board met in executive session Thursday night, then voted to file a petition in DuPage County Court seeking to disconnect from the existing fire protection district. The village makes up about 90 percent of the fire protection district and, under the plan, would assume responsibility for fire service in the rest of the district, which is unincorporated.

"This was a total surprise," said Hanover Park Fire Chief Art Stoiky ". . . to go to bed last night and think that nothing was going and then to wake up this morning and find out they have filed."

Putting fire and rescue services under village control would save money and be more efficient, said Village Manager Marc Hummel. An analysis done over the last several years shows that the fire department would use village administrative services and receive fleet maintenance through the Public Works Department, he said.

"There are advantages associated with having fire suppression and ambulance services under a broader public safety agency," Hummel said. "The municipality is already a public safety area. We have police protection, we have the water-system responsibility, which is a key component in fire suppression. Police and fire respond to virtually every event."

Village trustees said this had been a topic of discussion for years.

"I don't know how he could be so surprised. It's been a goal of the village for quite some time to do this," said Village Trustee Wesley Eby. "Everything just kind of came together this week," he said.

Village President Irwin Bock sent a letter Friday to the Fire Protection District Board and Stoiky "asking for their cooperation in a mutual transfer of assets, vehicles and employees."

Under the proposal, the village would assume control of the fire and rescue services now performed by the fire protection district.

All fire district employees would be transferred to the village's fire department.